The Midwife's Legacy

by Jane Kirkpatrick

  “Okay to come in?” The lanky stranger flashed a smile at both women before stepping inside. “Morning. I just need to get the last of my power tools out of the nursery.”

  Ellie wrestled her bulk out of her chair and spoke to Kendra under her breath. “Don’t dismiss Willamette just yet.” Then she turned up the wattage of her smile and the belle of her accent. “Of course you can come in, sugar. Don’t mind us.” She put her hand on her hip, her brows dipping to a furrow of false confusion. “Now, I don’t think you two have met, have you?”

  Before Kendra could answer, the man stepped forward and gently took her hand. Why that would startle her, she didn’t know, but the rush of heat in her cheeks felt horribly visible. Maybe it was the open interest with which he looked into her eyes. And weren’t his as clear and blue as a Cascade lake?

  “Steven Nichols. No, we haven’t met. You’re a friend of Mike and Ellie’s?”

  “No.” Kendra shook her head and released his hand to tuck her dark hair behind her ear. “Or, yes, I’m a friend, but—”

  “Kendra’s my midwife.” Ellie gently patted her belly. “She stopped by to make sure the baby’s doing okay. We’re having this one here at home.”

  He lifted his eyebrows, and Kendra readied herself to hear the usual surprise at the very idea of home birth.

  “Kendra? That means ‘water baby’ or something like that, right?”

  Well, that just shut her right up. But only for a moment. “How in the world did you know that? I barely even knew that until a few years ago.” She absolutely could not contain her pleasure and gave up trying to hide that she was flattered.

  “I had a client whose little chatterbox of a daughter was named Kendra. She—the chatterbox—told me about the ‘water baby’ thing. Repeatedly.”

  “Steven is a carpenter,” Ellie said. “A genius carpenter. He’s the one who did the work in the baby’s room—the shelving and that beautiful molding around the top of the walls. And he’s building the pretty little nook near the window. And he made the rocking chair. Made it, Kendra. You’ve seen it, right?”

  “No, you’ve never—”

  “Oh, Steven will show you! Take Kendra on up there, sugar, and show her what you did.”

  Steven looked at Ellie, and a small, humble smile appeared for a moment and flitted away. He gave a playful shrug to Kendra. “Are you game?”

  She fought the mild embarrassment that tried to settle in. After all, she wasn’t flirting. Ellie was doing the flirting for her. Still, she found comfort in what seemed like easy camaraderie on Steven’s part.

  “Go on, Steven.” Ellie pointed to the stairs. “You lead the way.”

  The moment he turned his back, Ellie and Kendra met eyes. Ellie extended her arms, presenting Steven for Kendra’s consideration. Ellie said nothing but widened her eyes and opened her mouth to express her enthusiasm about him. Her rapid nod at Kendra all but said, “Is he great, or what?“

  Kendra grabbed at Ellie’s arms to lower them, just as Steven turned, clearly about to say something. He stopped before a single word left his mouth. Kendra and Ellie froze, two grown women apparently on the verge of a wrestling match. They swiftly dropped their arms, and Kendra tucked her hair behind her ears again, even though it was already tucked quite firmly there.

  Ellie pointed upstairs. “Well, don’t dillydally now, Steven. Kendra has other pregnant ladies to see. Give her the tour so she can be on her way.”

  He looked from Ellie to Kendra. He raised one eyebrow at them before he proceeded up the stairs. “Mm-hmm, will do.”

  Kendra made a similar face at Ellie before following him.

  Ellie hadn’t exaggerated about his being a genius carpenter. The baby’s room was unique in its loveliness. And the rocking chair was a work of art, pickled with a thin white stain that enhanced both the wood’s grain and the details etched into the arms and headrest.

  Kendra’s indrawn breath was audible. “Did you do all of the … what do you call this? This detail.” She ran her fingers across the etched work.

  He shrugged. “It’s all just woodwork. Carving with V-tools and gouges. And this detail here is called inlay. The placement of another woodcutting within this larger one.”

  As he reached to touch the inlay, his fingers accidentally brushed against hers. They both drew their hands back as if they had touched hot coals. A second later, they met eyes and laughed at themselves.

  Still, they both jumped when Ellie popped her head into the room and said, “Was I right?”

  “Wow,” Steven said. He rubbed the back of his neck. “You can be pretty quiet when you want to be.”

  She chuckled. “I’ll have to tell Mike you said that. I think he might give you an argument. But isn’t this work something, Kendra?”

  Kendra nodded and ran her hand along the arm of the rocking chair again. “It really is.” She looked at Steven. “You know, I have a couple of pieces of furniture at home that I inherited. A desk and an armoire. They’re antiques that have been stored in a bunch of different attics and storage units over the years. I can’t honestly tell if they’re worth restoring or not.”

  “I’d be happy to take a look at them.”

  “I’ll leave you two alone to talk about that.” Ellie spoke over her shoulder as she left the room. “But Kendra, you said to not let you be here later than ten, and it’s ten now.”

  “Oh! I’ve got to go. My next appointment is at Willamette.”

  “The hospital?” Steven asked. “My brother-in-law is a surgeon there. John Parkham.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know the name.” She shrugged. “It’s a big place. But, listen, do you have any free time tomorrow? I’m off, unless one of my moms goes into labor.”

  “I could make time.”

  “I have my cards in my purse downstairs. I’ll leave one with Ellie to give you before you go. If you call me—”

  “I’ll definitely call you.” He gave her a friendly smile, and those penetrating, interested eyes of his crinkled.

  She turned quickly away and spoke as casually as she could: “Okay, then! I’m looking forward to it.”

  She heard him, not too far behind her, as she left the room.

  “You bet. Me, too.” He said it in a friendly tone, with the utmost respect. But there was no doubt in her mind that he watched as she walked down the stairs. Every step of the way.

  Chapter 2

  Steven saw her walk out the hospital’s revolving glass door with great purpose in her stride and the breeze in her long, dark hair. He jumped out of his Silverado and waited for her to notice him. She didn’t.

  “Kendra!”

  He loved the ready smile that crossed her face when she recognized him and the way she barely hesitated before walking toward him.

  Steady, boy. Don’t read too much into this.

  They hadn’t gotten together—hadn’t even spoken—the day after they met at Ellie’s a few weeks ago. He had called, only to reach her voice mail. She had called back, only to reach his. And she had taken the ball into her own court with the promise to call him again when her schedule eased up.

  Since then she had occupied his thoughts at random moments of his days. Her appreciation of his work played over and over in his memory, and he couldn’t help but smile with each new replay.

  He wasn’t sure if she was involved with anyone. He had been too proud to ask Ellie before he left her house that day. He just took the business card Ellie handed him and thanked her as if he had forgotten about Kendra.

  “Kendra? Oh, right, right. Yeah, thanks. I’ll call her about that furniture of hers.”

  He wasn’t prone to game playing. But Ellie had seemed too curious, and he was sure she’d interfere somehow if he asked questions about Kendra, no matter how casually he did it. Still, if Kendra wasn’t involved with someone already and had the slightest bit of interest in him, he was inclined to work on that.

  His sister, Marianne, was forever pushing her single friends on
him, and he tried to be open-minded about the possibilities. She meant well. And he didn’t really want to be alone the rest of his life. But this was the first time in ages that a woman had turned his head just by looking into his eyes.

  And here she was, walking toward him and looking into his eyes again.

  At once he remembered the matter he promised his sister about, soon after he mentioned his client’s midwife. Today’s timing couldn’t have worked out better.

  “The genius carpenter, right?” Kendra reached out to shake his hand.

  “Right, from Ellie’s nursery.”

  It sounded as if he lived in Ellie’s nursery.

  “I mean, we met at—”

  She nodded. She remembered. “I’m sorry I didn’t call you again. About my furniture? It seems as if all the babies in town decided to arrive at once.” She cocked her thumb back toward the hospital. “I was just visiting one of my patients, as a matter of fact.”

  “I figured. I’m waiting on my sister, Marianne. She’s visiting her husband.”

  “Oh yes, you mentioned he was a surgeon here. Their schedules can get pretty crazy, too. I’ll bet he’s happy to have his wife visit like that.”

  “He’s divorcing her.”

  He didn’t know why he blurted it out so harshly. He heard the anger in his voice as he said it. Not the way he wanted to come across to this attractive woman who now struggled with an expression of uncomfortable shock.

  “Oh, I’m so sorry.” She glanced down, as if the divorce were her fault.

  He shook his head. “No, I—I shouldn’t be so blunt.” He exhaled exasperation and ran his hand over the back of his neck. “I guess I’m still pretty angry about it. I just heard this week. I don’t know what kind of man would walk out on his wife at all, let alone—” He stopped when he looked up and saw Marianne approach them. “Uh, could you excuse me for a second, Kendra?”

  She looked into his eyes quickly before she started to walk away. “Sure. I’ll call you later. About the desk and armoire.”

  “No, but could you wait a minute? I want you to meet my sister.” He went to Marianne without waiting for Kendra’s answer. By the time he reached Marianne, she seemed composed, if not a little moist around the eyes.

  “You all right?” He put his arm around her.

  She nodded. “I’m fine. I’m glad I came. I think it helps me to let him go when he’s so awful to me.”

  Steven nearly groaned. “Marianne, don’t tell me stuff like that when I’m right outside his office. It’s all I can do to stay out here and keep my hands off the jerk.”

  She laughed softly and gave his chest an affectionate pat. “You’ve always been more like a big brother than a little one, Stevie. Don’t worry. It’s all going to work out.” With eyes sad and tired, she looked at Kendra. “Who’s your pretty friend?”

  They reached Kendra, and Steven introduced them. “Kendra is the midwife I mentioned to you.”

  The women shook hands, but Kendra looked at Marianne’s stomach, surprised. “Your brother didn’t tell me you were pregnant!”

  Marianne rested her hands on her swollen abdomen. “Ah. But he told you about my husband, I take it?”

  “Well, we just ran across each other before you walked out,” Steven said. He looked at Kendra and raised his palms to present his sister’s condition. “See, this is why I wanted … well, why Marianne wanted to meet you.”

  Kendra frowned, even while she smiled. “I’m not sure I understand. Surely you haven’t gone this far into your pregnancy without getting prenatal care? You must be, what? In your seventh month?”

  “Thirty-two weeks.” Marianne drew her shoulders back in a stretch. “But things have become a little complicated. I hope I can be candid with you?”

  Kendra nodded, but Steven could see she had no other choice. She was going to think his family situation was a regular soap opera. And the whole ugly saga was going to be dumped in her lap before they had really gotten to know each other at all.

  Marianne said, “My husband’s decision to end our marriage has everything to do with his dalliance with Gina Chastain. The OB/GYN?”

  Kendra gasped. “Please tell me she’s not your doctor.”

  “No. Just my husband’s girlfriend. And my doctor’s partner. When Steven told me about you, I thought maybe God had answered my prayers about that part of my problem. I’m not really all that comfortable with Antoine Zibarro—my doctor—anymore, just because of his partnership with … that woman. And his friendship with my husband. I’d just as soon get as far away as possible from that little group of people, you know?”

  “Dr. Zibarro.” Kendra bit her lip. “He’s not a big fan of midwifery.”

  Marianne shrugged. “Well, then, he doesn’t have to use a midwife. But I’m sold.”

  “But you don’t even know me.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m no flighty mama. After Steven mentioned you, I asked around, and everyone raves about you.” Marianne cocked her head toward Steven. “And you seem to have made a good impression on my baby brother here, too.”

  Kendra chuckled. “Baby brother.”

  She looked at Steven, and he loved what he saw in her expression. She saw him as a man, not someone’s baby brother. He wanted more than anything for Kendra to agree to work with his sister. He would be the most involved “baby brother” around, especially if it meant a chance to get better acquainted with this particular midwife.

  He lifted his eyebrows at her. “What do you think?”

  “Hmm.” She grimaced. “I don’t know. Marianne, I wouldn’t be able to work with you until you formally sever your relationship with Dr. Zibarro. And he’s likely to make trouble when he learns you’re turning to a midwife.”

  “He doesn’t need to know who I’m turning to. It’s none of his business. I’ll simply tell him I’m no longer comfortable working with anyone in Gina Chastain’s office.” She crossed her arms over her ample belly. “I’d like to see them make a stink about that.”

  Steven watched Kendra struggle with the pressure they were putting on her.

  “You know what?” he said. “We really threw this at you out of the blue. Here you thought you were just heading home after checking on a patient, and we’ve ambushed you.”

  “No, it’s not that. It’s just …” But she didn’t have anything else to say, apparently.

  “How about you give it some thought and give me a call later?” he said.

  Marianne said, “Or you could just call me.” She glanced at Steven, apparently read his mind, and revised her comment: “Yeah, actually, you should call Steven.”

  Atta girl, Marianne. He smiled at her before giving Kendra a more serious expression. “No hard feelings either way.”

  “Right.” Marianne reached over and gave Kendra a reassuring pat on the arm. “Except I’ll be in a horrible bind if you say no.”

  “Marianne!” Steven kept from laughing until Kendra laughed herself.

  “But no hard feelings.” Kendra’s eyes twinkled. “Good to know.”

  “Yeah,” Marianne said. “I’m sure plenty of women give birth all by themselves these days without the help of doctors or midwives. I’ll just ask my neighbors to swing by and lend a hand. They have a couple of kids. They probably know what to do.”

  “Ignore her.” Steven opened the passenger door of his truck, and Marianne waddled toward it. “She’ll be fine with another doctor or another midwife if you’re uncomfortable with this idea.” He looked at his sister. “I’m going to walk Kendra to her car. You okay stepping up to the seat?”

  “Piece of cake. Nice meeting you, Kendra.”

  Steven stayed to help Marianne into the truck anyway, and then he followed Kendra to her little blue Honda CRV. She faced him after she opened her car door.

  “I’ll probably be able to take on Marianne, Steven, but—”

  “Uh, could you say that one more time?”

  She tilted her head. “I’ll be able to take on Marianne?”


  He shook his head. “No. Just my name. That’s the first time you’ve said my name.”

  She opened her mouth, clearly caught off guard. And then she lowered her eyes. “Well, I’ve really only just met you.”

  He said nothing. She had such thick, dark eyelashes. And such perfect skin.

  “Steven.” She almost whispered it.

  She was right. They’d only just met. But he already hoped to hear her address him in that soft voice for many days to come.

  Chapter 3

  When Kendra walked into her mother’s house that afternoon, she wasn’t sure if her upbeat mood was more about the fine health of all her current patients or the way Steven Nichols had flirted with her in the hospital parking lot. But apparently her mood was written in her every movement.

  “Well, aren’t you bouncy today?” Her mother walked down the stairway to give her a hug. “I assume the baby and mother from last night are doing well, then?”

  Kendra hugged her mother back and inhaled that wonderful mix of powdery fragrance and recently baked cookies.

  “Oh, that baby boy is the cutest thing, Mom.”

  “Already? I always think they’re kind of ugly this early on. Like pruny little old men.”

  Kendra gave her a little shove and laughed. “You’re awful. They’re all beautiful, even the pruny ones. I don’t know how the family birthing gene managed to skip your generation, but goodness, you’re cynical.”

  Her mother’s eyes widened. She grabbed Kendra’s arm and led her toward the kitchen. “That reminds me, your sister’s coming home for a visit in a couple weeks.” She retrieved a greeting card from the counter and handed it to Kendra.

  “Shar actually sent you a card? She took the time to write something by hand? Her cell battery must be missing.” Kendra saw what her sister wrote:

  Coming for the weekend, June 8. Looky looky!